Lyon deny rumours of Yoann Gourcuff Arsenal switch

Arsenal have yet to contact Lyon about a move for midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, according to the French club’s chairman.

Jean-Michel Aulas says rumours of the Gunners eyeing the 26-year-old French international are unfounded, despite Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger having been a long-term admirer of the Lyon player.

‘Arsenal and Gourcuff? I don’t know about any offers,’ Aulas told French sports channel beIN Sport.

‘I have never spoken with Arsenal.’

Speculation has been rife this week that the Ligue 1 side had offered Arsenal a ‘cut-price’ deal for Gourcuff with the attacking midfielder struggling to settle in Lyon after his £20m switch from Bordeaux in 2010.

The former AC Milan player has long been n linked with a move to the Premier League, but clubs were previously put-off by his high transfer fee.

But Russian side Spartak Moscow are also thought to be targeting Gourcuff, who has only featured a handful of times for Lyon this season after suffering a knee injury in August.